Assignment:
Final Paper
This Final Paper involves the critical review and analysis of a published epidemiological research study, using the epidemiological concepts covered in Modules 1-6. You do not choose your own study; your Instructor will provide the research study to review and analyze. The audience for this 5-8-page scholarly paper is other epidemiological researchers.
The Final Paper must include, but is not limited to, the following:
Part I. Study Summary (2-3 pages)
(Note: this summary must be in your own words)
• The study objective/research question
• Primary exposures and outcomes of interest
• Identification of study design
• Description of study population and the sampling/selection process
• Description of the statistical analysis used and the primary measures of association reported
• Identification of potential confounders (if any) and the technique used to minimize them or analyze their effects
• Identification of potential effect modifiers (if any) and the technique used to analyze their effects
• Summary of major study results
Part II. Critical Analysis (3-5 pages)
• Discussion of random error and how it might have affected the results
• Explanation of possible selection bias and how it might have affected the results, including a discussion of the size and direction of any possible bias
• Explanation of possible misclassification (information) bias and how it might have affected the results, including a discussion of the size and direction of any possible bias
• Evaluation of the other limitations of the study
• Critique of the discussion section of the paper and whether it adequately addresses the strengths and limitations of the study
• Description of the potential generalizability of the study results
• Critique of the authors' conclusions and whether or not they are appropriate given the study findings
• Descriptions of future studies that would be appropriate given the study findings